Vinod

Vinod from Haryana

Kochuveli RPF personnel called to our helpline and informed about a child sitting at the premises of the railway station very hungry, lean and tired. Our team immediately reached the place and brought Vinod to Don Bosco Nivas. After giving him a bath we took him to the hospital as he was weak and not eaten for days. He was unable to take in food. He looked to be deaf and dumb and he was not speaking. At the hospital when the nurses brought the needles he started talking and was very unwilling to cooperate. Giving him tablets, we brought him back and provided shelter.

Slowly he started taking in liquids and soft bread. He was mentally unstable. He said that he had lost his parents and had no one to care for him. From the fact that he was communicating in English we understood that he did not belong to the street. He always refused to eat rice. With lots of persuasion we managed to take his blood and conducted tests to make sure he did not have any serious sickness.

After three weeks Vinod improved his health and one day he revealed the actual details of his whereabouts. He hailed from Haryana and was belonging to a well to do family. “Though Vinod had some mental instability he never left home before”, said his Father. They were searching all over and had given missing complaint at the police stations in different states. The family was relieved to receive Vinod and they flew back to Haryana with Vinod.

Vinod’s story is one among 12 children we rescued in the past three weeks. 

ONAM ALSO FOR THE DEPRIVED

Onam at Don Bosco Veedu

24 youth of the DB Tech programme of Hospitality Management at Don Bosco Veedu celebrated onam on 11^th of September. The group of trainees from different parts of Trivandrum is provided free training in hospitality management with 100% placement opportunity in collaboration with Taj Group of Hotels. The students who hae dropped out from regular education and have completed 18 years are the target group of the programme. Presently the third batch is under training and the present group is active and learning well. The preparation of the programmes of onam celebration was befitting the hospitality management trainees. The students performed well and also had arranged the stage and sadhya (lunch) very well. The group dispersed for onam holidays  

Onam at Don Bosco Nivas

The children in the shelter home had a wonderful celebration of Onam which lasted almost three days! The Christ Nagar School children gave our children an unforgettable onam. The children of 11^th standard from Christ Nagar School took our children out for onam shopping. They bought new dresses and other gift items for our children on 12^th September. On the 13^th our children were the guests at the onam celebration at Christ Nagar School. All the children were provided onam gifts and onasadhya.

On 14^th September, We celebrated onam at our centre. All the staff and children were present. The programme started at 11.30 with cultural programmes and a solemn onam lunch. Fr. Francis Karackatt, the rector of the institution and Fr. Santhosh were present during the celebration. The children were happy to perform different programmes during the cultural events. The celebration continued after lunch with variety games in which all children participated.

Onam at Karimadom

On September 13^th at 4 pm all the Sthree Jyoti- self help group members, Tuition Children, Sponsored children and those who attended the eye camp and were in need of spectacles gathered at Karimadom Community hall for the onam celebration. Variety entertainment programmes from women and children, Thumbi Thullal (Onam special cultural event), and onam games were part of the programme. The cultural events were followed by distribution of spectacles to all those who required it. There were 24 glasses distributed freely. The Managing Director of Babu Optical, Mr. Babu who sponsored the spectacles was present for the onam celebration. The poor people of Karimadom colony were thankful for the glasses that they received free of cost. The onam celebration ended with payasam (onam sweets) for all.

RAS

Rapid Assessment Survey (RAS)

In collaboration with YaR Netwok (Young at Risk Forum) and Don Bosco Research Centre, Mumbai, Don Bosco Veedu Society is conducting a rapid assessment survey to find the number of street children in Trivandrum. The area covered in the survey consists of 100 wards under the Corporation of Trivandrum city. The survey is carried out in collaboration with the Social Justice Department of the Government of Kerala. Two ICDS – anganwadi workers from each ward of the corporation were selected to conduct the survey. 184 anganwadi workers participated in the training programme conducted by us on 28^th of August 2013

The survey consists of ward wise head counting of street children and interview of three street children from every ward of the corporation. The aim of the survey is to provide information to NGOs, the State Governments, and other stakeholders for planning and implementing a well-coordinated program to meet street children’s needs and respect their basic rights. It also is an opportunity to evaluate the impact of our work for street children since 1991. A survey was conducted by Don Bosco Veedu society in 1994 to determine the number of street children and it was found that there were over 2000 children in the city. Identifying areas where there are street children is also in view of rescuing and protecting them. Our aim is to create a street children free Trivandrum with on the spot intervention to rescue and rehabilitate any child who reaches the streets of Trivandrum.

The survey is being carried out and we hope to finish the same and begin the tabulation and publishing work by 20^th of this month.